Starbucks Makes Huge Commitment to Vets

Because Starbucks values the skills and talents of men and women in the U.S. military, it has announced a strategic plan to hire at least 10,000 veterans and active-duty spouses over the next five years.

In addition, a store in Lakewood, WA and a store in San Antonio, TX will begin sharing a portion of each transaction with non-profit programs Operation GoodJobs and Vested in Vets as part of a commitment to establish five such stores in joint base communities around the United States.

“As I look at the opportunity ahead of us, we’re going to need to hire men and women with like-minded values and the right job skills in order to continue our current levels of growth,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and chief executive officer. “The more than one million transitioning U.S. veterans and almost one and half million military spouses – with their diverse background and experience – share our mission-driven sensibility and work ethic and can build long-term careers at Starbucks as they return home.”

The multi-year hiring and career development strategy will focus on matching the transferable skill sets of veterans and military spouses with the specific talent needed across the Starbucks enterprise. From running a million dollar enterprise as a store manager to specialized supply chain, manufacturing or logistics roles, the portfolio of careers available at Starbucks reflects the need for highly skilled applicants. Already, veterans and their spouses can learn more about how their backgrounds align with Starbucks positions through a jobs skills translator that is available on Starbucks veterans hiring website: Starbucks.com/careers/veterans/

The Armed Forces Network, a peer organization that ensures new hires have access to the information and resources in the workforce, has been a part of Starbucks since 2007, supporting transitioning military and the company’s efforts to make it an employer of choice for these new hires.

“Veterans and military spouses represent one of the most underutilized talent pools in our country and, without the proper career path, will continue to go untapped,” said former Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. “Companies like Starbucks recognize this opportunity and are moving swiftly to translate the skills of military service into a meaningful private sector role.”